Muddy Hole

Muddy hole is a resettled fishing community located west of the northern entrance
to Hermitage Bay between Richards Harbour and McCallum. It was known as Little
Harbour until the 1800's.

In 1836 only 20 people lived there and family names included Fudge, McDonald and
Simms.

This settlement was situated around a small harbour with a muddy hole. People
lived there because the harbour had excellent protection for small boats and because of
its closeness to excellent fishing grounds all year. The species they fished were cod,
salmon, herring and later lobster.

People from Muddy Hole got their supplies from trading vessels run by firms from
communities such as Harbour Breton and Jersey Harbour or from American and French boats in
exchange for bait.

By 1951 the population had grown to 123 . The religion practiced was of the Church
of England.

The school named Mary Magdelene and the church was built by 1901 and was still
being used in the 1930's and 1940's. However, people started leaving Muddy Hole in the
late 1950's because of the isolation and lack of facilities such as doctors.

In the 1960's the government started resettling the people of Muddy Hole to places
such as Harbour Breton, Gaultois, and Ramea. Everyone was resettled by the summer of 1965
.